Car sets garage on fire in Clay, shuts down traffic on Route 57

Clay, N.Y. - A garage fire shut down traffic on Route 57 for about an hour or so tonight as firefighters battled a blaze that began with a car on fire.

Nobody was injured in the blaze, Liverpool firefighters said.

Fire crews initially were called out just before 7 p.m. to 7286 Oswego Road (Route 57) to a reported vehicle fire. When firefighters arrived, they found the car about five feet from a 2-story detached garage/barn structure. The fire spread from the car to the structure.

The structure's wood was old and dry, said 3rd Deputy Chief Jerry Payne, adding that it went up fast. The structure was filled with furniture and clothing. It took firefighters about 25 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

Firefighters had to use a hydrant near Old Cove Road, which meant laying the fire hose across Route 57, shutting down north and southbound traffic, Payne said.

About 70 firefighters responded from Liverpool, Moyers Corners and Baldwinsville fire departments. Onondaga County fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.